Harris County (Tex.). Juvenile Probation Department.

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A symbiotic relationship beginning as early as 1909 between children's homes workers and the Houston Police Department, likely led to the founding of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in 1915. From its inception, the HCJPD had jurisdiction over all children engaged in delinquent acts, dependent and neglected children, adoption investigations, custody disputes, investigations of insanity (both adult and juvenile), and intake for epilepsy and tubercular state institutions. The department also administered support funds for old-age and mothers' pensions. R. R. Adcock, who first appears in the Auditor's records in December of 1916, was likely the first Chief Probation Officer. By 1918, J. W. Mills had taken over as Chief, and remained in charge until 1932. R. C. Roebuck was the Department's next Chief Probation Officer, serving from 1932 until 1937. W. E. Robertson (1937 - 1952), Paul Irick (1952 - 1961), and R.O.D. Schoenbacher (1961 - ca. 1985), follow in succession. Because of the steady increase in cases throughout agency history, HCJPD was constantly underfunded and understaffed, especially in regards to male, minority, and bilingual caseworkers. The strain becomes most noticeable during the Depression, both World Wars, and in the 1950s and 1960s, with the dramatic increase in population in Houston and Harris County. Juvenile Probation funded and managed several County children's homes serving both dependent and delinquent children. The homes included the Harris County Training School for Girls (1914) of which Ethel Claxton was the first Superintendent and Mary Burnett the first Assistant Superintendent. Other homes established were The Harris County School for Boys (1910), the Bayland Orphans Home (post 1922), Burnett-Bayland (1952) and the Harris County Youth Village (1972). Harris County provided a home for African American girls for 20 years, the Dorcas School (ca. 1915 - 1935) and an emergency shelter, Harris County Children's Home (1961). The county homes were integrated during the 1960s. HCJPD also managed the Harris County Home for the Aged (1922 - 1960), which had segregated facilities for approximately one hundred white and African American residents. In 1968, the HCJPD underwent a major restructuring to concentrate on delinquency cases only. The responsibilities for other services previously provided were assumed by Child Protective Services Division, a state agency, Harris County Social Services, and the Mental Health Department.

From the description of Harris County Juvenile Probation records, (1913-1989). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 182579667

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Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Harris County (Tex.). Juvenile Probation Department. Harris County Juvenile Probation records, (1913-1989). Harris County Public Library, Library Administration
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adcock, R. R., person
associatedWith American Association of Social Workers. corporateBody
associatedWith Baird, Russell. person
associatedWith Bayland Orphans Home (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Burnett-Bayland Home (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Burnett, Mary, person
associatedWith Chimney Rock Cetner (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Claxton, Ethel, person
associatedWith Community Unit Probation Services (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith DePelchin Faith House (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Dorcas School (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County Children's Home (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County Home for the Aged (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County Juvenile Board (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County School for Boys (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County (Tex.). Juvenile Protection Department. corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County Training School for Girls (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris County Youth Village (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Irick, Paul, person
associatedWith Mary Burnett School for Girls (Harris County, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Mills, J. W., person
associatedWith National Probation Association National Conference (1933-1948) corporateBody
associatedWith National Probation Association (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Roberston, W. E., person
associatedWith Roebuck, R. C., person
associatedWith Schoenbacher, R. O. D., person
associatedWith Shults, Donna. person
associatedWith Texas Probation and Parole Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas Youth Council. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Texas--Harris County
South Houston, Tex
Clear Lake Region (Galveston County and Harris County, Tex.)
Bellaire, Tex
Harris County (Tex.)
Seabrook, Tex
Houston, Tex
Subject
Abused children
Adoption
Child abuse
Children with mental disabilities
Custody of children
Epilepsy
Foster home care
Juvenile corrections
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquents
Juvenile delinquents
Juvenile detention
Juvenile detention home
Juvenile justice, Administration of
Juvenile protection
Mental illness
Mental illness
Mentally ill
Mothers' pension
Old age pensions
Public welfare
Social service
Social work with children
Tuberculosis
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

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